The Incidence and Clinical Characteristics of Pulmonary Embolism in Oncologic Patients

Background: The clinical characteristics of pulmonary em-bolism (PE) for different cancer types in oncology outpatients are unknown. Aim of Study: Is to estimate the incidence and type of pul-monary embolism among oncologic patients with assessment of associated clinical characteristics. Patient and Methods: Prospective cohort study was carried out on (540) patients has different cancers at one day care unit of oncology at King Fahd Hospital, Madina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 2019 through June 2023. CT chest with contrast and CT pulmonary angiography done when indicated. Results: Our study was carried out on (540) patients has different cancers, of which 24 (4.44%) developed PE. PE group was 9 (37.5%) male while 15 (62.5%) female with M ± SD of age (54.95±17.3). PE was represented (50%) in patients with seminoma, germ cell tumor while in cancer larynx was repre-sented (33.4%) and less common in cancer colon, prostate and breast (6.68%, 4.7%, 2.54%) respectively. (7) PE patients (1.3%) were incidentally discovered during staging of cancer while 17 patients (3.14%) have symptomatic PE. In symptomatic group: (10) patients developed PE during chemotherapy, (4) patients developed PE during hormonal ther-apy, (2) patients developed PE during staging of cancer, and (1) patient developed PE during follow-up after chemotherapy. 20/24 (84%) of PE developed in the first 6 months from di-agnosis of cancers while 4/24 (16%) of PE developed during follow-up of the patients within the first year from diagnosis. Two patients have cancer prostrate, one patient has cancer larynx, and one patient has ca. breast. The most degree of PE was low risk PE (75%) while massive and sub-massive was in (3) patients (12.5%) for each one. The most of the patients were given low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (22/24) patients while thrombolytic therapy (TPA) was given for only one pa-tient and IVC filter was inserted in 2 patients. Conclusions: Incidence of PE in oncology out patients was (4.44%) and PE was common in seminoma, germ cell tumor, caner prostate, lung and cancer larynx, and less common was in breast cancer. People with (lung, pancreas, uterus and blad-der) cancer have especially high risk of incidental PE. The most common degree of PE was low risk one while massive and sub-massive was rare.